Glazing strip and stop assembly



June 1957- J. J. 0| CESARE, JR. ETAL 3,323,270

GLAZING STRIP AND $TOP ASSEMBLY Filed NOV. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 6g 7 2 i4 ,4, 5 w w W w/ W m Wm in 71A 8 6 4/ 4/ 4. L x

m w. Uk E M m w w Mm Nm T 1 f A 6" R W I. m Yf .mw J E June 1967 J. J.0| CESARE, JR., ETAL 3,323,270

GLAZING STRIP AND STOP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 27, 1964 m mfu- WJH W E v S WNW T .100 A S k M e o W J d n m United States Patent3,323,270 GLAZING STRIP AND STQP ASSEMBLY John J. Di Cesare, Jr., andEdward J. Rutkowski, Kenmore, N.Y., assignors to National GypsumCompany, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 27, 1964,Ser. No. 414,060 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-498) This invention relates toimprovements in wall construction, and more particularly to a new andimproved glazing strip and stop assembly for supporting a wall panel,such as a glass panel, preferably in a demountable partition wall formedof extruded metal framing members.

A primary object of the invention is to provide such an assembly whichis designed to permit easy installation of the glass panel in lightopenings in partition walls by minirnizing or eliminating the need forinserting the panel into a plurality of glazing recesses or channels inthe wall frame, as well as by eliminating the necessity of installingthe panel in any particular wall erection sequence.

Another object is to provide such an assembly which is designed tofacilitate assembling and disassembling thereof, as well as removal ofthe panel from the Wall whenever desired.

A further object is to provide such an assembly which is designed tominimize or eliminate visible fastening means therein for improvedappearance.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon consideration of the following de tailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a ceiling height, demountable partitionwall section having a floor to ceiling window opening in which areremovably mounted a pair of glass panels;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and illustrating afloor cornice and rail cap as a preferred means for supporting theglazing beads and lower edges of the glass panels;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 and illustrating aceiling cornice and rail cap on which is mounted a glazing strip andstop assembly constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention forsupporting the glazing beads and upper edges of the glass panels;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of FIG. 1 and illustrating aleft end wall cornice and rail cap on which is mounted a preferredembodiment of the inventive assembly for supporting the glazing bead andleft band edge of the left glass panel;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1 and illustrating aright end Wall cornice and rail cap having its exposed right hand sideclosed by a cover plate, and having a preferred embodiment of theinventive assembly mounted on its left side for supporting the glazingbead and right hand edge of the right hand glass panel;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1 and illustrating a twopart glazing divider bar assembly for supporting the opposing edges ofthe glass panels;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged and fragmentary, perspective view of the lowerright hand corner portion of the wall section of FIG. 1, with certainparts removed for clarity, and illustrating in greater detail the mannerin which the lower right hand corner of the right hand glass panel andthe glazing beads thereon are supported by the floor cornice and railcap and by a preferred embodiment of the inventive assembly;

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged and fragmentary, exploded perspective viewillustrating in greater detail the structure of the glazing strip, theglazing stop and fastening means making up a preferred embodiment of theinventive assembly, together with a glazing bead and edge portion of aglass panel to be supported thereby, and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating a modifiedembodiment of the inventive assembly wherein the glazing stop snaps onto the glazing strip and the separate visible fastening means of FIG. 8is eliminated.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts,unless otherwise specified, and particularly to FIG.1, a demountablepartition wall section is generally indicated at 10. This wall section,which is of ceiling height, fills the space between the floor 11,ceiling 12 and left end wall 13 (see FIG. 4) of a building, the rightend of the Wall section forming part of an internal opening in thebuilding such as a passageway, walk through or the like. Wall section 10also has a floor to ceiling window opening in which are removablymounted a pair of preferably glass panels P.

Each of the floor 11, ceiling 12 and end wall 13 is provided with anelongated wooden furring strip 14 which is suitably secured in place bymeans of screws 15, as seen in each of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Secured overthese strips 14 are the floor, ceiling and left end wall cornice andrail caps 16, which are identical in construction except that left endcap 16 is longer. The right end cap 16 of FIG. 5 is of the sameconstruction and is the same length as the left end cap 16, but is notsecured to a separate furring strip 14, as are the other caps, ratherpreferably to the right ends of floor and ceiling strips 14 as will beexplained below.

As shown in any of FIGS. 25, caps 16 are each of generallychannel-shaped cross-section and open to the outer sides of therectangular frame formed thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each cap 16includes inturned outer flange portions 17 terminating in reentrantdistal flange portions 18, as Well as internal lateral flange portions19 spaced on each side of a central stepped recess portion 20. In FIGS.24, the flange portions 17 abut the floor 11, ceiling 12 and end wall 13respectively, the flange portions 18 abut the longitudinal edges ofstrips 14, the outer edges of the flange portions .19 abut the exposedsides of strips 14 and the recessed portions 20 similarly abut theexposed sides of strips 14, all to ensure a snug fit over these strips.In addition, in each of FIGS. 24, caps 16 are rigidly but removablysecured in place on strips 14 by screws 21 passing through the bases ofrecessed portions 20.

As far as the right end cap 16 of FIG. 5 is concerned, this ispreferably secured in place by passing screws (not shown) reverselythrough recessed portions 20 into the ends (not shown) of floor andceiling strips 14. Moreover, the open right side of right end cap 16 isclosed by a cover plate 22 preferably secured thereto by screws 23passing through flange portions 17.

Referring briefly to FIG. 6, the Wall section 10 also includes a glazingdivider bar assembly generally indicated at 24 for supporting theopposing edge portions of the pair of glass panels P, as alsoillustrated in FIGS. l-S. This divider bar assembly is composed of apair of generally channel shaped members 25 and 26 each provided withinturned distal flange portions designed to abut and support the sidesof panels P adjacent their opposing edges. Member 25 has a centralthrough opening in its base and member 26 has a central internal andinternally threaded nut 0r boss portion 27 for receiving the threadedstem of bolt 28, which is turned in the usual manner, either to tightenmembers 25 and 26- into engagement with panels P, or to loosen andpermit removal of such members.

As will be appreciated, the various structural wall framing membersdescribed above, such as caps 16, plate 22, and divider bar members 25,26 are preferably formed as unitary members by extruding metal. From thestandpoints of economy, light weight, high strength and appear ance,satin-anodized aluminum of suitable gauge has been found to beparticularly adapted for use .in practicing the present invention, notonly in extruding the aforesaid members, but also in extruding thepreferably unitary glazing strip and stop components of the inventiveassembly described below.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the glazing strip and stop assemblies eachconstituting a preferred embodiment of the invention are generallyindicated at 30, and each assembly includes a glazing strip 31, aglazing stop 32 and fastening means 33. Inasmuch as the ceiling assembly30 of FIG. 3 is identical to the end wall assemblies 30 of FIGS. 4 and5, except in length, a description of one will sufl'ice for all.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, and particularly FIG. 8, the elongatedunitary glazing strip 31 includes an elongated flat base portion 34having along one longitudinal edge and on one side an L-shaped salientportion facing the opposite longitudinal edge of base portion 34 andformed by later-a1 flange portion 35, parallel flange portion 36 and adistal lateral flange portion 37 turned inwardly toward the baseportion. The flat outer lateral surface of flange portion 37 is adaptedto support one side of the beaded edge portion of panel P. Base portion34 also is provided with a rib 38 offset to the right of flange portion37 to form one part of a two-part seat for bead B and panel P, as willbe explained below.

Spaced laterally from rib 38 and located on the same side of baseportion 34 adjacent its opposite longitudinal edge is another or secondsalient portion. This salient portion includes a first thickened wallportion defined by a longitudinal shoulder 39 and an outstanding lateralflange portion 40 having its right side wall surface covered with aplurality of longitudinal serrations 41. The second salient portion iscompleted by a second thickened Wall portion defined by a longitudinalshoulder 42 merging with the adjacent longitudinal edge of base portion34 and an outstanding lateral flange portion 43 like flange portion 40,but having only a single longitudinal starter serration 44 on its leftsidewall surface adjacent its outer edge. These spaced and opposed,inner lateral serrated surfaces of flange portions 40 and 43, togetherwith the side of base portion 34 form a channel shaped recess forreceiving the fastener 33 preferably of the machine screw type, and theouter or opposite smooth side walls of these flange portions form spacedand oppositely facing flat outer lateral surfaces parallel with theouter surface of flange portion 37 for engagement with stop 32 which isadapted to support the other side of the beaded edge portion of panel P.

In addition, the portion of shoulder 39 adjacent rib 38 forms the secondpart of the two-part seat for bead B on panel P. The purpose of thisconstruction is to avoid points of stress concentration caused byseating bead B on the heads of screws 45 securing the strips 31 to caps16 (FIGS. 3-5), just as the stepped recess functions for the samepurpose in FIG. 2.

Continuing with FIG. 8, the glazing stop 32 of the inventive assembly 30is generally channel-shaped in crosssection and opens toward the secondor right hand salient portion of strip 31. Stop 32 includes a baseportion 46 having a series of longitudinally spaced openings 47 (onlyone being shown), and a pair of lateral flange portions 48 eachterminating in inturned distal lug portions 49 having rounded ends oredges for sliding engagement with the outer surfaces of flange portions40 and 43. When installed, the outer side of left flange portion 48forms a flat, outer lateral surface parallel with the outer surface offlange portion 37 for properly supporting the other or adjacent side ofthe panel edge portion.

The inventive assembly 30 is completed by the desired number of screwtype fasteners 33. In assembling stop 32 on strip 31, the stop is slidlaterally over the second salient portion, with the rounded ends of lugportions 49 engaging the outer side walls of flange portions 40, 43. Thefasteners 33 are passed through openings 47 and turned so that theirthreaded stem portions engage serrations 41 and 44, biting into theseserrated surfaces. So

long as one of the opposed inner surfaces of flange portions 40, 43 isprovided with a plurality of longitudinal serrations 41, it is onlynecessary that the other surface be provided with a single or starterserration 44 adjacent its outer edge to ensure proper tightening of afastener 33. This substantially reduces manufacturing costs.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a modified embodiment of the invention isgenerally indicated at 50, and in this instance, the assembly iscomposed of only two unitary components, the glazing strip 51 and thestop 52. As in the embodi ment of FIG. 8, the substantially flat baseportion 53 includes a first salient portion adjacent one longitudinaledge, this portion being preferably L-shaped in crosssection, openingtoward the opposite longitudinal edge and formed by lateral flangeportion 54, parallel flange portion 55 and distal lateral flange portion56 turned inwardly toward the base portion, and corresponding to flangeportions 35, 36 and 37 respectively in FIG. 8. However, strip 51 differsin that it has no rib 38 and does not provide a raised seat for bead Band panel P. Moreover, the second or right hand salient portion differsfrom that of FIG. 8 in that it is formed by a single thickened wallportion or boss 57 of generally mushroom or T shape in cross-section andterminating in outstanding and oppositely facing, longitudinal flange orear portions 58 and 59, which have inner and flat, longitudinal surfacesperpendicular to the flat outer lateral surface of flange portion 56.Flange portions 58 and 59 form with the adjacent side of base portion 53outwardly facing longitudinal recesses 60 and 61 having oppositelyfacing and flat, inner lateral surfaces which are parallel with theouter lateral surface of flange portion 56, and together with the innerlongitudinal surfaces of flange portions 58, 59, are engageable withglazing stop 52 for supporting the other beaded side of panel P.

Continuing with FIG. 9, the stop 52 is much like stop 32 of FIG. 8 inthat it is composed of base portion 62, side flange portions 63 andinturned distal lug portions 64 having rounded ends or edges, and wheninstalled, the flat outer surface of left flange portion 63 is parallelto the outer surface of flange portion 56 for properly supporting panelP. However, unlike stop 32, base portion 62 needs no openings 47, andflange portions 63 are wider than flange portions 48 to compensate forthe absence of shoulders 39 and 42 of FIG. 8, since in each embodimentit is desired that the base portion of the stop be flush or coplanarwith flange portion 36 (FIG. 8) and 55 (FIG.

. 9) for evenly supporting both sides of panel P.

Moreover, stop 52 is of the snap on type instead f the screw on type, asis stop 32. In this instance, the flange portions 58 and 59 span adistance greater than the distance between lug portions 64. However,because of the natural resiliency of flange portions 63, they readilyspring apart when forcing lugs 64 of stop 52 over flange portions 58,59, and readily spring lugs 64 back into engagement with the innersurfaces of recesses 60 and 61 to securely latch stop 52 in place onstrip 51. The rounded contours of lug portions 64 and of the outer edgesof flange portions 58, 59 facilitate such assembling, while the radiusof curvature of flange portion 59 is greater than that of flange portion58 and arranged to form a more pointed juncture with the adjacent sidewall of recess 61 in order to prevent accidental removal of stop 52. Atthe same time, the right flange portion 63 is designed to projectslightly beyond the adjacent longitudinal edge of base portion 53 tofacilitate prying stop 52 loose, with an appropriate tool, such as ascrewdriver (not shown).

While the glazing bead B has been referred to briefly above, it is to beunderstood that this is merely the preferred head in that it can bereadily extruded to length from suitable plastic material such as rigidpolyvinyl chloride. Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, bead B iscomprised of a flat base portion 1) having inner converging leg portionsc merging with more steeply converging outer leg portions d terminatingin reversely bent and oppositely diverging wing portions 2. Normally,the distance between inner leg portions d is less than the thickness ofpanel P, but these leg portions can be readily sprung apart to snap orslide bead B in place over the edge portion of panel P.

In erecting a wall section such as 10, as indicated in FIG. 1, the caps16 are appropriately secured in place on strips 14 to form therectangular frame, as noted previously. Next, one or more of strips 31or 51 may be secured to the approprite caps 16 to complete the windowopening. If more than one wall section is to be erected, it will beapparent that this may be done without regard to installation of panelssuch as P, which can wait until the end. Thus, when desired, the panelsP may readily be installed in place by inserting their beaded loweredges in recess 20 in floor cap 16 (FIG. 2), after which the stops 32 or52 are assembled on strips 31 or 51 respectively, to secure the panels Pin place. Preferably, the ceiling stop is installed first in wallsection 10, as this will support the upper edges of both panels P,whereupon the installation of the left and right end Wall stops may beaccomplished as desired. The wall section is completed by assemblingdivider bar channel members 25 and 26 of FIG. 6 on opposite sides of theopposing panel edge portions and tightening bolt 28.

It will now be seen how the invention accomplishes its objects, and thenumerous advantages of the invention likewise will be apparent. Whilethe invention has been described and illustrated herein by reference tocertain embodiments, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the inventive concept, the scope of which is to bedetermined by the appended claims. For example, to improve appearanceand further reduce the visibility of fasteners 33, the holes 47 in stops32 could be countersunk. Likewise, if desired, the insertion of panels Pinto recess 20 of floor cap 16 (FIG. 2) could be completely eliminatedby attaching thereto either embodiment of the inventive assembly.

What is claimed is:

1. A glazing strip for removably supporting a wall panel, such as aglass panel, and comprising substantially flat base means, first salientmeans on one side of said base means and having substantially flat,first lateral surface means for supporting one side of a panel, andsecond salient means on said one side of said base means, said secondsalient means having oppositely facing and substantially flat outerlateral surface means substantially parallel with said first lateralsurface means and engageable with a glazing stop for supporting theother side of said panel, and opposed inner lateral serrated surfacemeans arranged between said outer lateral surface means and engageablewith threaded fastening means for removably securing said stop on saidstrip.

2. An elongated unitary glazing strip for removably supporting a wallpanel, such as a glass panel, and comprising a substantially flat baseportion, a first generally L-shaped salient portion on one side of saidbase portion adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, facing the oppositelongitudinal edge thereof and including an inwardly turned distal flangeportion forming a substantially flat, first lateral surface forsupporting one side of a panel, and a second salient portion on said oneside of said base portion adjacent said opposite longitudinal edge, saidsecond salient portion having a spaced pair of oppositely facing andsubstantially flat, outer lateral surfaces substantially parallel withsaid first lateral surface and engageable with a glazing stop forsupporting the other side of said panel and a spaced pair of opposedinner lateral serrated surfaces arranged between said outer lateralsurfaces and being engageable with a threaded fastener for removablysecuring said stop on said strip.

3. The glazing strip of claim 2 wherein one of said inner surfaces iscovered with a plurality of longitudinal serrations, and the other ofsaid inner surfaces has a single longitudinal serration adjacent itsouter edge.

4. An elongated unitary glazing strip for removably supporting a wallpanel, such as a glass panel, and comprising a substantially flat baseportion, a first generally L-shaped salient portion on one side of saidbase portion adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, facing the oppositelongitudinal edge thereof and including a distal flange portion turnedinwardly toward said base portion and forming a substantially flat,first lateral surface for supporting one side of a panel, and a secondsalient portion on said one side of said base portion adjacent saidopposite longitudinal edge, said second salient portion including amushroom-shaped lateral flange portion terminating in outstandingoppositely facing longitudinal flange portions which have inner andsubstantially flat, longitudinal surfaces substantially perpendicular tosaid first lateral surface, and said lateral flange portions formingwith said one side of said base portion outwardly facing recesses havingoppositely facing and substantially flat, inner lateral surfaces whichare substantially parallel with said first lateral surface and, togetherwith said inner longitudinal surfaces, are engageable with a glazingstop for supporting the other side of said panel, the outer edges ofsaid longitudinal flange portions being rounded to facilitate engagementwith said stop, but the outer edge of the one of said longitudinalflange portions adjacent said opposite longitudinal edge of said baseportion having a greater radius of curvature than the other outer edgeand being arranged to merge with its inner longitudinal surface in asharper juncture to prevent accidental removal of said stop.

5. A glazing strip and stop assembly for removably supporting a wallpanel, such as a glass panel, and comprising in combination, a stripincluding substantially flat base means, first salient means on one sideof said base means and having substantially flat, first lateral surfacemeans for supporting one side of a panel, and second salient means onsaid one side of said base means, said second salient means havingoppositely facing and substantially flat, outer lateral surface meanssubstantially parallel with said first lateral surface means and opposedinner lateral serrated surface means arranged between said outer lateralsurface means, a stop of generally channel shape facing said secondsalient means, having means engageable with said outer surface means andhaving substantially flat, third lateral surface means facing andsubstantially parallel with said first lateral surface means forsupporting the other side of said panel, and fastener means engageablewith said stop and inner serrated surface means for removably securingsaid strip and stop together.

6. A glazing strip and stop assembly for removably supporting a wallpanel, such as a glass panel, and comprising in combination, anelongated unitary glazing strip including a substantially flat baseportion, a first generally L-shaped salient portion on one side of saidbase portion adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, facing the oppositelongitudinal edge thereof and including an inwardly turned distal flangeportion forming a substantially flat, first lateral surface forsupporting one side of a panel, and a second salient portion on said oneside of said base portion adjacent said opposite longitudinal edge, saidsecond salient portion having a spaced pair of oppositely facing andsubstantially flat, outer lateral surfaces substantially parallel withsaid first lateral surface and a spaced pair of opposed, inner lateralserrated surfaces arranged between said outer lateral surfaces and anelongated unitary glazing stop of generally channel shape and includinga base portion having longitudinally spaced through openings, and a pairof outstanding flange portions facing said second salient portion, saidflange portions having inner surface means engageable with said outerlateral surfaces, and one of said flange portions having an outerlateral surface facing and substantially parallel with said firstlateral surface for supporting the other side of said panel, and aplurality of threaded fasteners passing through said openings andengageable with said serrated surfaces for removably securing said stripand stop together.

7. The glazing strip and stop assembly of claim 6 wherein one of saidinner surfaces is covered with a plurality of longitudinal serrationsand the other of said inner surfaces has a single longitudinal serrationadjacent its outer edge.

8. A glazing strip and stop assembly for removably supporting a wallpanel, such as a glass panel, and comprising in combination, anelongated unitary strip including a substantially flat base portion, afirst generally L- shaped salient portion on one side of said baseportion adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, facing the oppositelongitudinal edge thereof and including a distal flange portion turnedinwardly toward said base portion and forming a substantially flat,first lateral surface for supporting one side of a panel, and a secondsalient portion on said one side of said base portion adjacent saidopposite longitudinal edge, said second salient portion including amushroom-shaped lateral flange portion terminating in outstanding andoppositely facing, longitudinal flange portions which have inner andsubstantially flat, longitudinal surfaces substantially perpendicular tosaid first lateral surface, and said longitudinal flange portionsforming with said one side of said base portion outwardly facing andsubstantially flat, recesses having oppositely facing inner lateralsurfaces substantially parallel with said first lateral surface, and astop of generally channel shape and including a base portion, a pair ofoutstanding lateral flange portions facing said second salient portionand terminating in inwardly bent distal lug portions opposing eachother, said outstanding lateral flange portions being springable apartfor forcing said lug portions into engagement with said innerlongitudinal and lateral surfaces of said mushroom-shaped flange portionfor removably securing said strip and stop together, and one of saidoutstanding lateral flange portions having an outer surface facing andsubstantially parallel with said first lateral surface for supportingthe other side of said panel, the outer edges of said longitudinalflange portions of said mushroom-shaped flange portion being rounded tofacilitate engagement with said stop, but the outer edge of the one ofthe longitudinal flange portions adjacent said opposite longitudinaledge of said base portion having a greater radius of curvature than theother edge and being arranged to merge with its inner longitudinalsurface in a sharper juncture to prevent accidental removal of saidstop, and the other of said outstanding flange portions of said stopbeing arranged to project beyond said opposite longitudinal edge of saidbase portion to facilitate removal of said step from said strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,352 2/1944 Lowry 525022,840,869 7/1958 Fegan 52-499 X 2,971,229 2/1961 May 52501 X 3,016,9931/1962 Owen 52502 X 3,028,938 4/1962 Schorr 52-499 X 3,031,049 4/1962Somville 52-498 X 3,196,998 7/1965 Owen 52498 3,212,225 10/1965 Neal52501 X FOREIGN PATENTS 194,584 1/ 1958 Austria. 1,177,249 4/1959France.

636,852 5/1950 Great Britain.

874,712 8/1961 Great Britain.

470,070 3/ 1952 Italy.

565,192 7/1957 Italy.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

W. E. HEATON, K. DOWNEY, Assistant Examiners.

1. A GLAZING STRIP FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A WALL PANEL, SUCH AS AGLASS PANEL, AND COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BASE MEANS, FIRST SALIENTMEANS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BASE MEANS AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT,FIRST LATERAL SURFACE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONE SIDE OF A PANEL, ANDSECOND SALIENT MEANS ON SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BASE MEANS, SAID SECONDSALIENT MEANS HAVING OPPOSITELY FACING AND SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT OUTERLATERAL SURFACE MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID FIRST LATERALSURFACE MEANS AND ENGAGE-